Whether reflected by actual data or not, one thing is clear: Verona business owners are feeling less safe these days.
Borough business owners and managers — 21 of whom signed a letter to Verona officials — say they’ve seen an increase in crime in the business district over the past year. The letter, sent last month, called on the borough to improve police protection for businesses and their customers.
Council Vice President Trish Hredzak said the borough’s crime data is “lacking.”
“It’s less about what the actual data says and more about the fact that this amount of people are citing that they feel unsafe,” Hredzak said. “The public perception is that crime is increasing.”
Recent crimes include thefts from multiple businesses along Allegheny River Boulevard, including Giant Eagle in the River Town Shopping Plaza, Verona News and the Clean & Dry Laundromat.
The letter outlined three requests for change, including increasing current officers’ required patrols, increasing borough leadership’s efforts to hire more officers and that council consider a change in police department leadership.
At the council’s public meeting on Nov. 26, Mayor David Ricupero said the thoughts and feelings in the letter were valid, and he would be working with Verona’s officer in charge, Jerry Francos, to improve the community’s experience.
Ricupero said a meeting will be scheduled in the new year for officers to give ideas for the prioritization of community-oriented policing and efficiency. Hredzak said there will be a town hall announced shortly after that meeting.
Jack Thompson has owned Jack’s Barber Shop in Verona for about 20 years.
He said there was little to no police presence in the business district until Officer Tom Dessell was hired in June.
“He stops at the shop and businesses throughout the week to check on us and build relationships with us,” Thompson said. “He has been visible, active and truly making a positive impact on the business district and neighborhoods.”
Hredzak credited Dessell with introducing the community-oriented coverage style to the borough.
Dessell, a multigenerational “Veronian,” said it’s important to get to know the community he’s covering.
“I’m going to go to work each day in hopes of making Verona a better place,” Dessell said.
Thompson said he doesn’t know any of the other Verona officers’ names except for Francos because the two men went to high school together. Francos could not be reached for comment.
Patty Thomas, owner of Pinks Tiny Paws in Verona, was one of the people to sign the letter. She wrote her own letter to council last spring after noticing only one officer patrolling the business district on foot. She did not name the officer.
Francos said during the Nov. 26 meeting that all officers are required to complete traffic patrols and foot patrols throughout the business district and River Town Shopping Plaza at least twice per shift.
“I have cameras at night, and that same officer at 2 and 3 in the morning is walking the business district and checking (business) doors to make sure they’re locked,” Thomas said.
Thomas, a Penn Hills resident, agreed with the call for a police department leadership change. She said she would support a new chief if the council decided to make a switch.
The Verona Police Department and council members have been trying to bolster police recruitment since May. The department has since hired a fourth full-time officer.
“We’ve made changes, but there is still some public displeasure because they want to see more,” Hredzak said. “Understandably, they want to make sure their community is safe.”
Police Chief Ron McLemore is recovering from being assaulted during a domestic violence call in November 2023.
Hredzak said McLemore is eligible for workers’ compensation for another year and that borough officials are not able to make changes in leadership until he returns. Hredzak said there is no guarantee council will make a leadership change when McLemore returns to his position.
Despite Ricupero saying new ideas would be implemented by the new year, Thomas is skeptical about how much progress it will bring.
“We just need a leader that cares for the community, cares for the people, cares for the shops here and that really engages with them and us,” Thomas said.